Governors' Wind Energy Coalition

Heather Zichal, a former top White House aide to President Obama, has joined the Nature Conservancy as managing director of corporate engagement.

Zichal was a senior Obama White House aide on energy and environmental issues, helping develop several major regulations as well as the administration’s trademark Climate Action Plan. She left in 2013 (E&E News PM, Oct. 7, 2013).

Zichal also has experience on Capitol Hill, including working as former Massachusetts Democratic Sen. John Kerry’s legislative director.

“Heather brings a wealth of experience navigating the intersection of government policy and business operations,” said Mark Tercek, the Nature Conservancy’s president and CEO, in a statement.

“In her role as the deputy assistant to the president for energy and climate change,” he said, “she was instrumental in the design and execution of the Climate Action Plan and a champion of smart, pragmatic climate policy.”

Zichal said, “I’m looking forward to joining the team at a time when organizations like TNC are leading the way on tackling some of the biggest environmental challenges of our time.”

Since leaving the Obama administration, Zichal has advised companies and nongovernmental groups as a consultant. She served as a board director for Cheniere Energy Inc. and the Solar Foundation and as a member of Airbnb Inc.’s sustainability council. Zichal has also been involved with the Nature Conservancy’s NatureVest.

Zichal earned a degree in environmental policy from Rutgers University.